Control valve for dental drill units



Dec. 23, 1952 J E, HELD CONTROL VALVE FOR DENTAL DRILL UNITS Filed Dec. 29, 1948 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH E. HELD ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 23, 1952 CONTRDL VALVE FOR DENTAL DRILL UNITS .Foseph E. Held, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to American Gystoscope Makers, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 29, 1948, Serial No. 67,861

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improved valve means for controlling the discharge of fluid through a line adapted to be carried by a dental drill unit.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a control valve for a line adapted to be coupled to a dental drill unit and supply a relatively fine jet or stream of water or other fluid under suitable pressure to the teeth and gums, to thereby cleanse the teeth and gums and dislodge particles of food or foreign matter from the interspaces between the teeth, and microorganisms that may have been deposited on the teeth or gums.

The invention has for another object the provision of a control valve of the character indicated that may be readily operated by the fingers of the same hand used in supporting and manipulating the drill unit.

It is another object of the invention to provide a control valve that is readily and positively controlled by a dentist, whereby a fluid, such as water, may be supplied to desired locations by the dentist in conducting exploratory and operational procedures.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a control valve that is simple and compact in construction, that is reasonable in initial and maintenance costs, that may be readily assembled and dismantled, and that is efiicient and trouble-free in operation.

The foregoing objects as well as other objects, together with the advantages, construction and operation of the control valve of this invention, will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art from the following description and annexed drawing, which respectively describe and illustrate a preferred arrangement of devices embodying the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a dental drill unit, having the control valve of this invention operatively mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the control valve shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a View taken along staggered line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in enlargement taken along line 55 of Figure 3 and illustrates the relative position of the valv and certain parts when the valve is in "closed position;

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 and illustrates the relative position of the valve and certain parts when the valve is in open position; and

Figure 7 is an isometric view in enlargement illustrating the details of construction of a rock shaft that constitutes an element of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is illustrated in Figure 1 a portion of a conventional drill unit including a hand piece Ill that carries a removable holder l2 adapted to receive the usual dental drills, dental brushes, or the like. Secured to hand piece Ill by one or more rings I4 and the valve unit of this invention, generally indicated by numeral I6, is a pair of fluid lines, namely, an air line l8 and a water line 29.

Air line [8, as illustrated, comprises a flexible conduit 22 adapted to be connected to a suitable source of air supply (not shown), a rigid conduit 24 that is supported by ring M, a passage 26 in valve unit It (Figure 4), a nipple 21 communieating with a passage (not shown) in a connector 28, and a rigid conduit 30 communicating with the connector passage and having an orifice 32 for the discharge of air transmitted through the line.

Water line 20 is generally parallel to air line [8 and preferably comprises a flexible conduit 34 that is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of water supply (not shown), a rigid conduit 36 carried by ring M, a tubular fitting 3B, coaxial communicating passages 40 and 42 in valve unit l6 (Figures 5 and 6), a nipple 44 communicating with passage 42 and a passage 46 in connector 28 (Figure 5), and a rigid conduit 48 communicating with passage 46 and having a discharge orifice 50. The discharge orifices 32 and 50 of the air and water lines It and 20, respectively, are arranged in close proximity to each other and to the extremity of drill holder 12 in order that the jets or streams of air and water emitted therefrom may be readily directed to the desired location in a patients mouth by the dentist.

The invention as shown in the drawing contemplates controlling the fiow of water through line 20 by valve unit I6. The flow of air through its line l8 may be controlled by a foot-operated valve or other known form of control device.

The valve unit l6 comprises a housing 52 having a longitudinal through opening 54 and a generally V-shaped side opening 56 defined by inclined surfaces 58 and 60. The valve unit is adapted to be mounted on the drill unit by inserting the forward end of hand piece In in central opening 54 and moving housing 52 to the desired location on the hand piece, whereupon the housing is secured to the hand piece through the medium of a knurled set screw 59. As is indicated above, housing 52 is provided with intercommunicating coaxial passages 4i and 42 that are adapted to establish communication between rigid conduit 36 and nipple M in Water line 28. Housing 52 is machined to obtain a frustroconical valve seat 62 at the juncture of passages 40 and 42.

The flow of water through line 20 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 1, 5 and 6 and thence out of discharge orifice is positively controlled by a valve mechanism that will next be described, having reference particularly to Figures 2, 4 and 5. This mechanism includes a generally cylindrical hollow valve 64 reciprocable in passage 40 and having an open rearward end 66 and a closed frustro-conical forward end 68 that is adapted to bear against and form a fluid-tight seal with valve seat 62 when the parts are in the relative position shown in Figure 5. Valve 64 is provided with a transverse opening or slot 70 and a port 72 that establishes communication between its interior and exterior. The valve is also provided with a flat surface 14 along its top portion forward of port 12 so as to obtain a space 16 between flat surface 14 and a portion of the surface defining passage 46. A helical compression spring 16 positioned within passage 40 bears against open end 66 of the valve and against the inner end of fitting 38 and urges valve 64 toward the left as viewed in Figure 5, to normally maintain frustro-conical valve head portion 68 in fluidtight engagement with valve seat 62.

A rock shaft 80, shown in detail in Figure 7, is supported in housing 52 and is rotatable about an axis normal to the axis of valve 64. The rock shaft is formed with an inner semicylindrical cam portion 82 that extends across transverse slot 10 in the valve. The rock shaft is also provided with an annular groove 84 and an outer portion machined to obtain a web 86. A screw 88 (Figure 4), carried by housing 52, has a pin extension 90 that registers with annular groove 84 to prevent axial movement of the rock shaft while permitting rotary movement thereof.

A lever 92 is formed with a bifurcated lower end that is press-fitted to web portion 86 of the rock shaft. 7 As is indicated in Figures 2 and 4, the major portion of lever 92 is positioned in V-shaped opening 56. The upper end of the lever projects through and slightly beyond a slot 96 formed in an arcuate slide member or actuator 98. actuator 63 is a pair of parallel spaced-apart inwardly projecting lateral tongues I69 that register with a pair of corresponding external grooves H12 in housing 52 to permit reciprocatory movement of the actuator along the housing.

Grooves 102 are parallel to the axis of valve 64 whereby the path of reciprocation of actuator 98 is parallel to the axis of the valve.

For the purpose of briefly outlining the operation of the valve of the invention, it is first assumed that the parts are in the relative position shown in Figures 1, 2' and 5 At such times valve 64 is in closed position due to the action of compression spring '18, and valve head 68 is in intimate contact with valve seat 62, effectively preventing flow of water past the valve seat. Cam portion 62 of rock shaft 80 is in the position shownin Figure 5, and actuator 98 and lever 92 are as shown in Figure 2 with the forward edge of the lever bearing against inclined surfaces. 58, thereby limiting sliding movement of actuator 98 toward the left as viewed in Figure 2.

The dentist normally places a finger orthe thumb of the hand, with which he is grasping hand piece It, on actuator 98. When it is desired to discharge water through orifice 56 of water line 20, the dentist merely moves actuator 98 toward the right as viewed in Figure 2 by exerting a rearward thrust with the thumb or finger that engages the actuator. As the actuator is moved Integral with the under side of toward the right (Figure 2), lever 92, rock shaft 80, and its cam portion 82 are simultaneously rotated in a clockwise direction. Such movement of the actuator, lever, rock shaft, and cam results in corresponding movement of valve 64 toward the right as viewed in Figure 5. Actuator 93 may be moved toward the right (Figure 2) until the right-hand edge of lever 92 bears against surface 60, which limits such movement of the actuator and lever. This effects movement of valve 64 from closed position (Figure 5) to open position (Figure 6), permitting water admitted into passage 40 to flow through the interior of valve 64, out of port 12, along space 16 and thence into passage 42, from whence it flows through nipple 44, passage 46, and conduit 48 where it is discharged through orifice 50. Upon release of actuator 98, spring 18 moves valve 64 from the position shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 5, thereby again closing the valve, and rock shaft 80, lever 92, and actuator 98 are returned to the position shown in Figures 5 and 2.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation, and advantages of my present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes in the apparatus set forth above may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it being intended that all matter contained in the description or shown in the drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a control valve of the character described, a housing having a passage therethrough, a valve seat disposed in the passage, a valve slidable axially in the passage and having a transverse slot formed therein, means urging the valve in one axial direction to normally maintain the same in engagement with the seat, and means for moving the valve in the opposite direction against the action of said means and comprising a rotary cam bearing against a portion of the valve that defines the valve slot, an actuator mounted directly on and reciprocable with respect to the housing along a path substantially parallel to the axis of the valve, and a lever secured to the cam and operatively associated with the actuator, said lever imparting rotary movement to the cam in response to corresponding reciprocatory movement of the actuator.

2. In a control valve of the character described, a housing having a passage therethrough, a valve seat disposed in the passage, a valve slidable axially in the passage and having a transverse slot formed therein, spring means urging the valve in one axial direction to normally maintain the same in engagement with the seat, and means for moving the valve in the opposite direction against the action of the spring means and comprising a cam bearing against a portion of the valve that defines the valve slot, said cam being rotatable about an axis substantially normal to the axis of the valve, an actuator including a pair of spacedapart inwardly projecting parallel tongues that register with corresponding grooves formed in the housing substantially parallel to the axis of the valve, and a lever secured to the cam and operatively associated with the actuator, said lever imparting rotary. movement to the cam in response to corresponding sliding movement of the actuator.

3. In a control valve of the character described,

a housing having a passage therethrough, a valve seat disposed in the passage, a valve slidable axially in the passage, spring mean urging the valve in one axial direction to normally maintain the same in engagement with the seat, and means for moving the valve in the opposite direction against the action of the spring means and comprising a rock shaft rotatably supported in the housing and having a coaxial peripheral groove formed therein, a pin secured to the housing and projecting into the groove to prevent axial movement of the rock shaft, a cam carried by the rock. shaft and operatively associated with the valve, an actuator mounted directly on and slidable with respect to the housing along a path substantially parallel to the axis of the valve, and a lever secured to the rock shaft and operatively associated with the actuator, said lever imparting rotary movement to the rock shaft in response to corresponding sliding movement of the actuator.

4. In a control valve of the character described, a housing having a passage therethrough, a valve seat disposed in the passage, a hollow valve slidable axially in the passage, said valve being open at one end and closed at its other end, a port in the valve intermediate its ends and establishing communication between the interior and the exterior thereof, a spring in the passage and acting against the open end of the valve for urging the valve in one axial direction to normally maintain its closed end in engagement with the seat, and means for moving the valve in the opposite direction against the action of the spring and comprising a rotary cam operatively associated with the valve, an actuator mounted directly on and slidable with respect to the housing along a path substantially parallel to the axis of the valve, and a lever secured to the cam and operatively associated with the actuator, said lever imparting rotary movement to the cam in response to corresponding sliding movement of the actuator.

5. A control valve as in claim 4 wherein the actuator includes a pair of spaced-apart inwardly projecting parallel tongues that register with corresponding grooves formed in the housing substantially parallel to the axis of the valve.

6. In a control valve of the character described, a housing having a passage therethrough, a valve seat disposed in the passage, a hollow valve slidable'axially in the passage, said valve being open at one end and closed at its other end and having a transverse slot formed therein, a port in the valve intermediate its ends and establishing communication between the interior and the exterior thereof, spring means urging the valve in one axial direction to normally maintain the closed end thereof in engagement with the seat, and means for moving the valve in the opposite direction against the action of the spring means and comprising a cam bearing against a portion of the valve that defines the valve slot, said cam being rotatable about an axis substantially normal to the axis of the valve, an actuator mounted directly on and slidable with respect to the housing along a path substantially parallel to the axis of the valve, and a lever substantially normal to the axis of the cam secured to the cam and operatively associated with the actuator, said lever imparting rotary movement to the cam in response to corresponding sliding movement of the actuator.

7. In a control valve of the character described, a housing having a passage therethrough, a valve seat disposed in the passage, a hollow valve slidable axially in the passage, said valve being open at one end and closed at its other end and having a transverse slot formed therein, a port in the valve intermediate its ends and establishing communication between the interior and the exterior thereof, spring means urging the valve in one axial direction to normally maintain the closed end thereof in engagement with the seat, and means for moving the valve in the opposite direction against the action of the spring means and comprising a rock shaft rotatably supported in the housing and having a coaxial peripheral groove formed therein, a pin secured to the housing and projecting into the groove to prevent axial movement of the rock shaft, a cam carried by the rock shaft and bearing against a portion of the valve that defines the valve slot, an actuator mounted directly on and slidable with respect to the housing along a, path substantially parallel to the axis of the valve, and a lever secured to the rock shaft and operatively associated with the actuator, said lever imparting rotary movement to the rock shaft in response to corresponding sliding movement of the actuator.

8. In a control valve of the character described, a housing having a passage therethrough, a valve seat disposed in the passage, a hollow valve slidable axially in the passage, said valve being open at one end and closed at its other end and having a transverse slot formed therein, a port in the valve intermediate its ends and establishing communication between the interior and the exterior thereof, spring means urging the valve in one axial direction to normally maintain the closed end thereof in engagement with the seat, and means for moving the valve in the opposite direction against the action of the spring means and comprising a rock shaft rotatably supported in the housing and having a coaxial peripheral groove formed therein, a pin secured to the housing and projecting into the groove to prevent axial movement of the rock shaft, a cam carried by the rock shaft and bearing against a portion of the valve that defines the valve slot, an actuator slidable with respect to the housing along a path substantially parallel to the axis of the valve, said actuator having an opening therein and including a pair of spaced-apart inwardly projecting parallel tongues that register with corresponding grooves formed in the housing substantially parallel to the axis of the valve, and a lever secured to the cam and registering with the actuator opening, said lever imparting rotary movement to the cam in response to corresponding sliding movement of the actuator.

JOSEPH E. HELD.

REFERENCES CKTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,740,669 Shaft Dec. 24, 1929 1,813,982 Woodrufi July 14, 1931 1,822,388 Beede Sept. 8, 1931 2,163,132 Roney June 20, 1939 2,462,646 Koehler Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,774 Great Britain of 1911 126,506 Great Britain of 1918 451,827 Great Britain of 1936 499,131 France of 1919 863,627 France of 1940 

